JSON.stringify() array bizarreness with Prototype.js

morgancodes_44683 0
Viewed 85581

I'm trying to figure out what's gone wrong with my json serializing, have the current version of my app with and old one and am finding some surprising differences in the way JSON.stringify() works (Using the JSON library from json.org).

In the old version of my app:

 JSON.stringify({"a":[1,2]})

gives me this;

"{\"a\":[1,2]}"

in the new version, 

 JSON.stringify({"a":[1,2]})

gives me this;

"{\"a\":\"[1, 2]\"}"

any idea what could have changed to make the same library put quotes around the array brackets in the new version?

prototypejs json javascript
11 Answers

Edit to make a bit more accurate:

The problem key bit of code is in the JSON library from JSON.org (and other implementations of ECMAScript 5's JSON object):

if (value && typeof value === 'object' &&
  typeof value.toJSON === 'function') {
  value = value.toJSON(key);
}

The problem is that the Prototype library extends Array to include a toJSON method, which the JSON object will call in the code above. When the JSON object hits the array value it calls toJSON on the array which is defined in Prototype, and that method returns a string version of the array. Hence, the quotes around the array brackets.

If you delete toJSON from the Array object the JSON library should work properly. Or, just use the JSON library.

user_2595790

I'm not that fluent with Prototype, but I saw this in its docs:

Object.toJSON({"a":[1,2]})

I'm not sure if this would have the same problem the current encoding has, though.

There's also a longer tutorial about using JSON with Prototype.

R_Bemrose_158800

Here's how I'm dealing with it.

var methodCallString =  Object.toJSON? Object.toJSON(options.jsonMethodCall) :  JSON.stringify(options.jsonMethodCall);
morgancodes_446830
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